San Antonio's water future: Prop. 6 will ensure vitality

Stumps stick out of the ground exposed by low water levels at Lake Travis in Austin.

Stumps stick out of the ground exposed by low water levels at Lake Travis in Austin.

Photo: Bob Owen, San Antonio Express-News

Photo: Bob Owen, San Antonio Express-News

Image
1of/4

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 4

Stumps stick out of the ground exposed by low water levels at Lake Travis in Austin.

Stumps stick out of the ground exposed by low water levels at Lake Travis in Austin.

Photo: Bob Owen, San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio's water future: Prop. 6 will ensure vitality

1 / 4

Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — Texas has a serious water problem.

Throughout the state, we've faced a punishing water shortage, drought conditions, and subsequent water usage limits. Facing one of our worst droughts in modern history, agricultural and other economic losses are estimated at $11 billion to date. More than 70 percent of the state is still experiencing drought conditions, and our water situation is on the verge of a full-blown crisis.

Securing the infrastructure necessary for life and commerce is one of our core responsibilities as elected officials — and water is fundamental to both. As speaker, I worked to ensure that water was one of our highest priorities in this year's legislative session. At the Capitol, we worked together across party lines to prepare for our water future. Demonstrating that ensuring access to a clean, abundant water supply is not a partisan issue, large majorities in the House and Senate voted to create a revolving fund to help local communities implement projects laid out in the State Water Plan.

This amounted to the largest investment in water infrastructure and conservation in Texas history — $2 billion.

Approval to spend these funds is now in your hands. Proposition 6, a constitutional amendment to ensure a sustainable water supply, will be on the ballot on Nov. 5. All of the funding approved through Proposition 6 would go toward projects and programs like building reservoirs and implementing conservation strategies that have been developed with local input.

Money for this effort would come from a deposit from our state's “Rainy Day Fund,” which was wisely created to set aside excess revenue for use in times of need. Because of recent economic growth, the state is set to deposit $2.5 billion in the Rainy Day fund next month, putting the balance at $8.8 billion — the highest it has ever been since it was created 25 years ago. Even after the passage of Proposition 6, the Rainy Day Fund will have $6.8 billion, still the second-highest balance in its history.

Your “yes” vote would simply be your approval to use the money for exactly the purpose for which it was already set aside.

Because we have managed our state's finances in a fiscally conservative way, we have the resources necessary to meet this urgent need. Approving Proposition 6 is the most fiscally responsible decision we can make. Our region has the third-highest projected capital costs for new water projects of any region in Texas. Without this funding, we will be forced to borrow money to fund necessary projects at more expensive rates, ultimately costing taxpayers billions more. Saying “no” to funding this now is short-sighted.

In Bexar County, we have a lot to gain — or lose — depending on the outcome of Proposition 6. Our rapid population growth has put a severe strain on our existing water supply. The Edwards Aquifer remains in Stage 3 restrictions for the San Antonio portion and Stage 5 restrictions — the most severe level — for the Uvalde portion.

Projects outlined for our region in the State Water Plan include building several new off-channel reservoirs, expanded groundwater development from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer, and three brackish groundwater desalination projects in the Wilcox Aquifer.

A failure to secure our water supply now not only has short-term implications for meeting our immediate needs, but also threatens our status as a thriving economic hub in Texas. This could limit our ability to attract industry and create jobs for our citizens in the future. The water shortage has and will continue to affect manufacturing, mining, and other industries right here in Bexar County.

We have to act now for ourselves and the future of our county, our region, and our state.

If Texans have one thing in common, it's the can-do spirit that has forged our unique sense of pride, our entrepreneurial approach and our ability to get things done. I was pleased that we came together in the Legislature, setting politics aside, and took bold action to secure our water future.